MAHOMET — Village officials will soon consider what could be the first large-scale commercial solar project near Mahomet.
This image from the Mahomet Plan and Zoning Commission packet shows the location of a proposed solar project.
IMAGE PROVIDED
ReWild Renewables is applying for a conditional use permit to build a solar farm on vacant agricultural land in Hensley Township adjacent to the village line. The approximately 87-acre site is located on the south side of County Road 2175 North, approximately 2,500 feet west of County Road 750 East.
Village Planner Abby Heckman said this is the first conditional use permit application that staff has processed for a “large-scale” ground-mounted solar project.
“We had a conditional use for a commercial area that wanted to offset existing electricity usage,” she said. “…But this would be the first one we've had that is more of a community solar project that just feeds the grid rather than balancing specific site use.”
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The Mahomet Plan and Zoning Commission will vote at its meeting Wednesday at 6 p.m. on whether to send a positive recommendation on the matter to the Village Board, which makes the final decision on conditional use permits.
The application was submitted by County Road 2175N Solar LLC. According to business documents, the two were directors of the limited liability company. are Patrick Jackson and Robert Lambert, both of whom are part of the leadership team at ReWild Renewables.
ReWild is an employee-owned company that develops solar energy projects and also uses these projects to support environmental protection.
The proposed project in Hensley Township would be built on approximately 40 acres within the 87-acre site. According to the documents included in the application, construction should begin in late summer 2025.
The property in question is owned by local attorney Andrew Hatch. Seth Waibel, Hatch's farm manager, said the plan is to lease the land to ReWild for 20 years.
The site is currently used for corn and soybean production. Waibel added that if approved, the remaining area not used for solar development would continue to be used for agriculture.
Heckman said village staff believes this is not a problem for this particular property.
“We have an idea of where our growth areas are, and this (site) is well beyond that,” she said.
Heckman wrote in a report to the commission that the land is identified in the comprehensive plan as part of the village's Rural Growth Area, which “discourages unnecessary infrastructure expansion and significant residential development to the extent that currently vacant and/or unused properties are located within.” the village boundaries.” developed.”
Village staff recommends that if the commission deems the proposed use “appropriate,” the permit should contain several conditions. This includes that the property owner must submit an application for voluntary annexation within six months of the village board's approval of the conditional use permit before the permit expires.
Another proposed condition stipulates that if construction does not begin within one year of the conditional use approval, the permit will be invalidated unless the applicant requests a one-year extension before the expiration date and can provide evidence of that There is a “good cause” request, Heckman wrote.
It is at the sole discretion of the village board whether to approve the annexation.
In addition to the local procedures the applicant must go through, Heckman said there are also state laws and “other building codes” that apply to this type of development.